CISCE to Launch Mental Health and Well-Being Initiative for Over 16 Lakh Students

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is set to launch a nationwide Student Mental Health and Well-Being initiative involving nearly 16 lakh students from Classes VI to XII. The programme will also involve around 32,000 teachers and more than 3,300 CISCE-affiliated schools, creating a structured platform for students to discuss academic pressure, emotional well-being, digital life, relationships, resilience and help-seeking behaviour.

The initiative will move through school, regional and national stages. Instead of functioning only as an awareness campaign, it is designed to collect student experiences and use those perspectives to develop practical recommendations for more supportive school environments.

CISCE Student Mental Health Initiative 2026: Key Details

Particulars	Details
Organising Body	Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
Participating Students	Nearly 16 lakh students
Classes Covered	Classes VI to XII
Teachers Involved	Approximately 32,000
Schools Covered	More than 3,300 CISCE-affiliated schools
National Conclave	November 20 to 22, 2026
National Conclave Venue	CISCE Centre of Excellence, Hyderabad

School-Level Mental Health Dialogues From October 4

The first stage will consist of School-Level Mental Health and Well-Being Dialogues from October 4 to 31, 2026. Students will participate in structured classroom discussions covering areas that can directly affect their academic and personal lives.

The major discussion themes include:

• Student stress and academic pressure
• Emotional well-being
• Digital life and its impact on students
• Positive relationships
• Drugs, substance abuse and healthy choices
• Building resilience
• Help-seeking behaviour and access to support

These conversations are expected to help schools understand students' concerns more systematically while encouraging stronger mechanisms for listening, empathy, peer support and appropriate assistance.

Regional Mental Health Conclaves in November

The second stage will take the discussion beyond individual schools. Regional Student Mental Health and Well-Being Conclaves will be conducted virtually across 18 regions from November 4 to 14, 2026.

Selected student representatives and teacher mentors will discuss observations emerging from school-level conversations. Participants for the national conclave will subsequently be selected from the regional process.

How the Three-Tier CISCE Initiative Will Work

Stage	Dates	Focus
School Level	October 4-31	Classroom discussions involving students
Regional Level	November 4-14	Virtual conclaves across 18 regions
National Level	November 20-22	National conclave at CISCE Centre of Excellence, Hyderabad

National Conclave to Develop Student Mental Health Charter

The final stage will be the CISCE National Student Mental Health Conclave 2026 in Hyderabad. It is expected to bring together 72 students representing 18 regions, 18 teacher mentors, mental health and policy experts, CISCE representatives and partner organisations.

One of the most important planned outcomes is a CISCE Student Mental Health Charter. The charter is expected to outline principles, responsibilities and recommendations for building emotionally safe and supportive school environments.

The programme will also work towards:

• Developing a Student Well-Being Index
• Creating a repository of effective school practices
• Preparing a White Paper on emerging mental health concerns among adolescents
• Strengthening student participation in school well-being discussions

The initiative marks an effort to make student voices a more structured part of discussions around school mental health. By connecting classroom experiences with regional and national conversations, CISCE aims to translate student concerns into practical recommendations that schools can use to strengthen emotional well-being, resilience and support systems.